Photo: Doug Kerr · CC BY-SA 2.0On FEMA’s figures, Russia faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Russia gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). Flood insurance has paid 9 claims here since 2011.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What Russia faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Russia’s grade
River and rain flooding is 94% of the building damage FEMA expects in Russia, and Russia’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts.
B− lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Russia’s residents live in 3 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $958K a year in losses across Russia: $864K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Russia flood? Rarely: 9 flood claims since 2011
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Russia, from FEMA’s records: 6.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 66% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Russia isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Herkimer County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Russia
Disasters that paid out in Russia itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Russia), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$12K to the Town of Russia for repairs
- 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds$21K to the Town of Russia for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$12K to the Town of Russia for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding$13K to the Town of Russia for repairs
- 2002Snowstorms$5K to the Town of Russia for repairs
- 2000Severe Storms and Flooding$12K to the Town of Russia for repairs
Herkimer County has had 18 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees; the 2001 World Trade Center declarations.
Old photos of Russia after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Russia archive →Russia and its neighbors
Russia is 4th of the 5 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deerfield | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Trenton | A−less damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Remsen | B+less damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Russia | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Newport | C+more damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Prospect | — | 218 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Ohio | — | 980 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Poland | — | 449 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Norway | — | 930 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Russia faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Russia
Is Russia at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Russia has lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Russia flood?
Flood insurance has paid 9 claims in Russia since 2011, $708K in all, or 6.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 66% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Russia in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Herkimer County, 1.1% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Russia?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Russia’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Russia?
By FEMA money that reached Russia, Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds (2011): $21K to the Town of Russia for repairs.
Is Russia at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (94%), and Russia’s rate for it is higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Russia.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Russia’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.